Joint for machines for molding articles from pulp.



M, L. KEYES. JOINT FOR MAGHINESEOR MOLDING ARTICLES mom PULP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

snares ar rm W", T a it On MARTIN L. KEYES, OF FATRFIELD', MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO KEYES FIBRE COMPANY, OF SHAW- MUT, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE] JOINT FOR MACHINES F0131 MOLDING ABTECLES FROM PULP.

are. 903,870.

Specification oi Letters Faltent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application filed July 22, 1903. Serial No. M43591.

such for example as shown and describedin my prior patents No. 7 59,616, granted May 10, 1904:, and No. 788,138, granted April 25, 1905.

In a machine of this character a. traveling mold is employed, the said mold being made of two parts, one of which is pivoted with respect to the other. The mold parts are hollow or chambered and connections are made to the said chambers throughthe supporting the mold parts, to enable the 1 air in said chambers to be exhausted or'com pressed as required in the operations ct forming the pulp articles. At oneperiod: in their travel the mold parts are pressed together by a powerful compressing device in order to compact the pulp intothede sired shape and reduce the amount of water therein. A machine of this type must ct necessity be of a strong construction to stand the speed at which it is run, the wear and tear of the moving parts, and the powerfiu-l compression to which the mold parts are subjected. One at least of the mold parts in its travel passes through a vat of liquid pulp, and the pulp, together with other toreign matters, is splashed: more or less over the entire machine, and particularly over the "mold carrying arms, and consequently over the pivotal joint connecting the; two arms.

It is necessary that the pivot arm carrying the one mold part shall swing back and forth on its pivot with great accuracy in order that the two parts of the mold may come into. exact juxtaposition in order to form the molded article properly. It is also necessary that this joint shall be kept well lubricated under these trying conditions. These and other considerations which will be apparent from an. examination of the character of the machine in question and its workings render the joint portion between the pivot and the fixed mold carrying. arms a vital feature in the. machine. tion relates to this feature and I have devised a form of joint which possesses great strength, secures the accurate registry of the mold parts, provides for a thorough and continuous lubrication of the joint, renders impossible'the entrance of any foreign mat.- ters to-the surtaces of the joint, and enables the parts to be readily taken apart and re.- pained or replaced when desired.

The invention will more fully appear from the accompanying description anddrawings and will be particularly pointed out in thev appended claims.

The drawings represent only thejoint portion in question and one end of the, moldcarryingarms, arrangement of the machine as a whole-be.- ing fully set forth in the above-mentioned patents.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper end of the mold carrying arms looking toward the back of the pivot arm; Fig. 2 is a plan view ot the lower portion of the device shown inFig: 1.. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation, partly in central cross-sectiomf'ot the-lower portion. of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side. elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 2. and 3-.

It is unnecessary here to describe for. the purposes 0t this invention the machine and its operation which are fully set forth in the above-mentioned patents.

The parts of the present invention in the form. herein illustrated include the Ui-shaped member ,A adapted to extend around the hollow arm leading tot-he fixed mold memben and to be bolted by means of boltspass ing through the holes a to the stifiemng ring of the machine, as illustrated for example in. the said Patent No.759,616.

My inventhe general construction and The urshaped member A carries pneiieras herein illustrated,

municates with the passageway l) coming up through the hollow arm.

The bracket (J carries at its upper end and has mounted therein a stub-shaft D, having a long projecting bearing portion extending laterally from the bracket. The stub-shaft is held in place in the bracket O by a shoulder d, and a nut (Z threaded on to the end of the shaft between which shoulder and nut the bracket is clamped. A small setscrew (Z may also be employed and passes through the bracket and engages with the shaft.

The elongated bearing portion of the shaft D is provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves d" and with an annular groove (Z intersecting the longitudinal grooves. These screws serve to secure the lubrication of the shaft as will be explained. The stub-shaft D is also provided at its projecting end with a reduced portion carrying a washer (Z and locking nuts (5 d threaded thereon.

The lower end of the hollow arm to which is connected and which supports the hollow pivoted mold member F, is shown at E.

' the shaft D.

The air passageway e in this hollow arm E is closed at its lower end, but has communicating therewith an air passageway 6 extending in laterally from the exterior of the arm.

The lower end of the arm E is formed as a long transverse bearing E adapted to eX- tend and fit over the projecting portion of The bearing E is provided with a hole and a plug 6 therein in alinement with the annular 'roove The outer end of the bearing 13 is screw-threaded and a cap G is fitted thereon to inclose the end of the bearotal joint, securing a continuous air passage from the hollow arm B to the "hollow arm E.

The operation of the device will be apparent. When the parts have been placed in position as illustrated, the nuts al and 6Z8 are tightened up until there is a close fit between the end of the bearing E the gasket H and the bracket C. The cap G incloses the end of the bearing, and thus it is impossible for any water, pulp, grit or other foreign matter to find its way into the joint between the surfaces of the shaft D and the bearing'E These surfaces are kept in constant and perfect lubrication by means of hard grease placed in the opening of the bearing E and forced in by means of the grease cup 6 so that it enters the annular groove (Z and 1s distributed by the longitudinal grooves d throughout the entire bearing surface. I

The length 'of the projecting portion of the shaft D and of the bearing is such that accurate movement of the pivoted arm and the consequent acburate registry of the mold members is assured.

The air passageway for securing a vacuum or a plenum in the chamber of the pivoted mold member does not at any point pass through the joint but is carried by means of the flexible tube K entirely around the joint.

There is thus rendered unnecessary the maintenance of any air-tight movable joint. The construction thus described has been found to work with great satisfaction and to secure the desired results under the trying conditions to which such a device is subjected in a machine of the character in question.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: j I

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a hollow arm closed at one end, a bracket at the said end thereof, a stub-shaft mounted in and projecting from said bracket, a hollow mold carrying arm closed at its end and provided with an elongated bearing adapted to fit over the projecting portion of said shaft, locking means on the end of said shaft for holding said bearing snugly up against said bracket, a flexible tube connecting the hollow of-said arms, and extending around said bracket, shaft and bearing.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a hollow arm closed at one end, a bracket at the said end thereof, a stub-shaft mounted in and projecting from said bracket, a hollow mold carrying arm closed at its end and provided with an elongated bearing adapted to fit over the projecting portion of said shaft, locking means on the end of said shaft for holding said bearing snugly up against said bracket, a removable cap on the end of said bearing inclosing said locking means. 3. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a hollow arm closed at one end, a bracket at the said end thereof, a stub-shaft mounted in and projecting from said. bracket, a hollow mold carrying arm closed at its end and provided with an elongated bearing adapted to fit over the projecting portion of said shaft, a metal gasket between said bracket and said bearing, locking means on the end of said shaft for holding said bearing snugly up against said bracket, a removable cap on the end of said bearing inclosing said locking means.

a 4. In an apparatus of the class described, a hollow arm closed at one end, a bracket at the said end thereof, a stub-shaft mounted in and projecting from said bracket, longitudinal grooves and an annular groove in the surface of said shaft, a hollow mold carrying arm closed at its end and provided with an elongated bearing adapted to fit over the projecting portion of said shaft, a hole in said bearing in line with said annular groove, and a grease cup in said hole, locking means on the end of said shaft for holding said bearing snuglyup against said bracket, a

flexible tube connecting the hollow-of said arms, and extending around said bracket, shaft and bearing.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a hollow arm closed at one end, a bracket at the said end thereof, a stub-shaft mounted in and projecting from said bracket, longitudinal grooves and an annular groove in the surface of saidshaft, a hollow mold carrying arm closed at its end and provided with an elongated bearing adapted to fit over the pro- 1 jecting portion of said shaft, a hole in said bearing in line with said annular groove, and a grease cup in said hole, a flexible tube connecting the hollow of said arms, and extending around said bracket, shaft and bearing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in. the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MARTIN" L. KEXES.

\Vitnesses:

MABEL PARTELOW, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

